New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-12
THE MITCHELSTOWN AFFAIR.
A nRurAL AND UNPROvoKED ASSAULT On
THE PEOPLE.
Nj. n.,YoUR's STATEMENT NOT SUPPORTED BIZ
pAcrs-EvIpENCE AGAINST THE POLICE
THE MATTER TO COME UP IN
THE COMMONS TONIGHT.
TBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Copyrtojtt, 1887, The Neso- York Tribune.


Cork, Sept. 1l.-Before starting for Dublin en-
route for the House of Commons and without
making any reference yet to William O'Brien's
arrest. have to add certain statements about
Alitche stown Mr. Balfour on Saturday stated
that the melancholy affair was the result OF
brutal and unprovoxed attack of the people on
the police. This was the report Of the police
themselves which l saw them sending of yes
terday in the telegraph office Of Mitchclstown
It is simply an atrocious lie. The Engnsh
pcople who witnessed Fridays proceedings will
he astounded when they read Mr.. Balfour's
speech 1t does not surprise us. This is the
usual way the brutalities of Castle rule are mis-
rerresentcd into virtues and the most infamous
Of its instruments pictured to the English Parha-
ment as injured innocents. But happily the
Mhtchcl,town occurrence differs from all other
previous occurrences of the kind in which the
authorities have behaved just as outrageously IN
tic fact that it was Witnessed by number of
independent spectators from England and Scot
land, consisting of three Members of Parliament,
three ladies' two Fellows of Cambridge and
major of volunteers from Glasgow. Their evil
dence conflicts in every particular with the state
ment made by Mr.. Bafour and confirms in every
substantial particular the statement l cabed to
you from the spot on Friday.
1t is my object TO give you the gist of the COM
muncations which they have made to me and
which will he used in the House of Commons to-
morrow right and be sworn TO on oath at the
inquest. They contain too many minor par
ticuIars to cable them in full. MIR. Balfouf.s
statement contains three main points. He says
that the people first attacked brutaly and with
ont provocation the police who were escorting
Government reporter, that an Irish member, Mr..
Condor, gave the word of command to the people
<bair nlrc nd lot mol
and that when the police fled the people followed
them and in immense numbers violently attempted
10 storm their barracks whence they fired only
in sheer sclf-pro.ection.
In support of my own evidence on this point
kt me first quote Thomas Ellis, NJ. p. Mr. ELS
says positively that he saw the police first wedge
their way into the crowd, that they were crushed
hack. that being reinforced they made q violent
attack upon the horses of the mounted contingent
with batons and sword bayonets, and that the
fringe of men next the police turned and bravery
defended themselves, routing the police out OF
the square. Mr. Ellis attributes to the extraor-
binary excrtions of Mr.. Condor, NJ. p, the calm
Ing down Of the people after the first attack was
made upon them, and lie adds that but Tor MI
Condon's influence the not that occurred would
have certainly followed the first attack of the
Iolioe Now in every particular Mr. Ellis is
eorroborated by Mr.. Coubrough, of Glasgow, with
the additional testimony that not only were the
police not followed by the crowd, but that the
street in front of the barracks had few II any
people in it, Mr.. COubrough positively testfes
to the orderliness of the meeting, the wantonness
of the attack by the police. and the panic which
.ezed upon them and in which they did their cow
Rrdly firing upon the defenceless people Three Eng
Ish ladies, also tourists, express their horror at
the unprovolocd and savage onslaught of the
police, and declare that the meeting could not
have been more orderly and peaceable.
The statement of Mr.. Balfour that the police
fred in self-defence is peculiarly provoking lie
debate of surprising interest is anticipated in
the House of Commons tomorrow night. Labou-
eherc, Brunner and Ellis have left Ireland TO
be present and take part in it. /. p GILL, NJ. +.